APPG MigrationOn 25th of March the APPG on Migration convened a parliamentary roundtable to examine proposed reforms to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and their potential implications for the asylum system and protections for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.
Chaired by Tony Vaughan KC MP, the discussion brought together parliamentarians and policy experts to explore the evidence surrounding the Government’s proposed reforms to the Modern Slavery Act 2015, examining their implications for the asylum system and protections for vulnerable people and supporting effective scrutiny of forthcoming legislation.
The event was held in collaboration with Bright Blue, which presented findings from its December 2025 report, Properly Protected: Reducing Victims and Abuses of Modern Slavery in the UK’s Asylum System. The report considers the evidence relating to the use of modern slavery protections within the asylum system and sets out a range of policy recommendations aimed at strengthening support for victims while maintaining confidence in the system.
The APPG was also pleased to hear from Eleanor Lyons, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, who shared her expertise on the implications of the proposed reforms. She emphasised that victim identification must remain firmly grounded in evidence of exploitation rather than an individual’s immigration status, and that this principle must be consistently recognised and upheld to ensure that those most vulnerable to modern slavery and trafficking receive the protection they need.
The APPG was also pleased to welcome contributions from:
- Will Prescott, Head of Research at Bright Blue
- Kate Roberts, Head of Policy at FLEX
- Allys Brown, Head of Development and Impact at Medaille Trust
- Andrew Wallis OBE, Chief Executive of Unseen
- Euan Fraser, Senior Policy and Research Advisor at Hope for Justice
- Alison Logier, Director of Modern Slavery Response at Hestia
